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The user dominated technology era: Dynamics of dispersed peer-innovation

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  • Hyysalo, Sampsa
  • Usenyuk, Svetlana

Abstract

Users invent new products and product categories, but the assumption has been that manufacturers will supplant users if their innovation is of value to many. The current paper examines Russian all terrain vehicles “karakats” to discuss a case of an era of extended user dominated technology and the related dynamics of dispersed peer-innovation. Karakat users have invented, modified, diversified and iterated this technology, as well as continued to self-build and self-maintain it. These vehicles are wide spread, have half a century of history and hundreds of design variants. Despite this, manufacturers have captured only a small subsection of the karakat market, albeit they have established new markets based on karakat principles. We find that the combinatory effect of previously known dynamics in user innovation research and science and technology studies offers a plausible explanation for the user dominance and dispersed peer innovation pattern, and manufacturers’ failure to conquer the market.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyysalo, Sampsa & Usenyuk, Svetlana, 2015. "The user dominated technology era: Dynamics of dispersed peer-innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 560-576.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:respol:v:44:y:2015:i:3:p:560-576
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2015.01.002
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    2. Hyysalo, Sampsa & Juntunen, Jouni K. & Martiskainen, Mari, 2018. "Energy Internet forums as acceleration phase transition intermediaries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(5), pages 872-885.
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    4. Lakomaa, Erik & Sanandaji, Tino, 2021. "Exploring collective consumer innovation in health care: Cases and formal modeling," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(8).
    5. Alexandra Raeva & Svetlana Usenyuk-Kravchuk & Anton Raev & Irina Surina & Marina Fionova, 2021. "Augmenting Design Education for Sustainability through Field Exploration: An Experience of Learning from DIY Practices in a Rural Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-22, November.
    6. Svensson, Peter O. & Hartmann, Rasmus Koss, 2018. "Policies to promote user innovation: Makerspaces and clinician innovation in Swedish hospitals," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(1), pages 277-288.
    7. Konstantin Fursov & Thomas Wolfgang Thurner, 2017. "Make it work!—a study of user innovation in Russia," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 44(3), pages 392-402.
    8. Paula Kivimaa & Wouter Boon & Sampsa Hyysalo & Laurens Klerkx, 2017. "Towards a Typology of Intermediaries in Transitions: a Systematic Review," SPRU Working Paper Series 2017-17, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    9. Olmedilla, M. & Send, H. & Toral, S.L., 2019. "Identification of the unique attributes and topics within Smart Things Open Innovation Communities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 133-147.
    10. Chanwoo Cho & Sungjoo Lee, 2015. "How Firms Can Get Ideas from Users for Sustainable Business Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-21, December.
    11. Matti Grosse & Hendrik Send & Thomas Schildhauer, 2019. "Lessons Learned from Establishing the Energy-Informatics Business Model: Case of a German Energy Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, February.
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    13. Wouter Boon & Gerben de Vries & Alexander Peine, 2015. "User-technology interactions in the construction of user-driven configurations – lessons from Dutch civic energy communities," Innovation Studies Utrecht (ISU) working paper series 15-02, Utrecht University, Department of Innovation Studies, revised Jun 2015.

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